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Subject:
Bell Light helicopters beat Europe EADS Helis for India--High alt performance makes the difference
Herc the Merc
9/18/2006 12:23:48 PM
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US firms set to bag deal for sale of 197 helicopters
NEW DELHI, SEP 17 (PTI)
Six years after American defence firms forayed into the Indian arms market after the lifting of US embargoes, a company is set to bag the first commercial deal for selling 197 light helicopters to the Army.
After almost two years of evaluation, including trials at the world's highest battlefield on the Siachen glacier, the army has, according to highly placed sources, opted for Bell Helicopter's 407 Shen model in preference to EADS' Eurocopter.
Though the army has given its technical evaluation to the defence ministry, the deal is yet to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherhee as well as the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Though the price negotiations are yet to be finalised, the deal, which includes the training of Indian pilots, is estimated to be worth over 400 million dollars.
The deal envisages the initial delivery of 60 helicopters in a fly-away condition and co-production of 137 helicopters after 100 per cent technology transfer by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
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